Method for storing media captured using a portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

A method for updating data in a media storage location includes: storing an identity on a portable electronic device, the identity allowing access to the media storage location; storing a file in a device memory of the portable electronic device, the file being captured by a media capturing component of the portable electronic device; and performing a synchronization operation using a media manager, the media manager being in communication with the device memory and the media storage location; the synchronization operation synchronizing data between the device memory and the media storage location.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/747,257, filed May 11, 2007, the entire contents of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a method for storing media capturedusing a portable electronic device, in particular, a method for storingmedia in a manner that facilitates uploading of the media to a personalcomputer and/or a media-sharing website.

BACKGROUND

As technology advances, electronic devices continue to become smallerand include more features. Today, electronic devices such as cell phonesand personal digital assistants (PDAs), for example, often includephone, email and media capturing/playing capabilities. Often, digitalcameras that are integrated into the electronic devices produce photoshaving a photo quality that is sufficiently high to allow the electronicdevice to be used as a primary camera.

One drawback of both electronic device cameras and stand-alone camerasis that the amount of memory available for photo storage is limited. Asa result, users must upload their photos to another storage locationfrequently in order to free up storage space on the camera. Manyphoto-sharing websites exist where users can store their photos forothers to view. Examples of photo-sharing websites include: Flickr™,Webshots™, Fotolog™ and MyPhotoAlbum™. In order to upload photos from anelectronic device including a camera, the photos are first saved on apersonal computer and then uploaded to the photo-sharing website byselecting photos from one or more folders on the computer.Alternatively, the photos may be uploaded directly to the photo-sharingwebsite by emailing the photos to an email address associated with thewebsite. Once the photos have been uploaded, they can be organized andstored in albums.

Photo-sharing accounts often include hundreds or even thousands ofphotos. The photos may be organized into existing albums or new albumsmay be created. In addition, meta tags may be associated with the photosin order to allow users to locate photos quickly. The capturing, naming,uploading and organizing processes associated with storing photoscaptured using an electronic device on a personal computer and/or on aphoto-sharing website can be very time consuming. Since these tasks arerepeated frequently, it is desirable to reduce the amount of user timespent performing one or more of the steps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments will be better understood with reference to thefollowing Figures in which like numerals denote like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a wireless communication system;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of components of a portable electronic deviceaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view of a folder structure for storing files on aportable electronic device;

FIG. 4 is a view of an example media website webpage;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method of capturing and storing an imageon the portable electronic device of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 6 through 12 are screen shots of a camera application on theportable electronic device depicting the method of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a method of updating a media-sharingwebsite from the portable electronic device of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one aspect there is provided a method for updating a media-sharingwebsite, the method including: storing an identity on a portableelectronic device, the identity allowing access to an account on themedia-sharing website; storing a file in a device memory of the portableelectronic device, the file being captured by a media capturingcomponent of the portable electronic device; performing asynchronization operation using a media manager, the media manager beingin communication with the device memory and the account on themedia-sharing website; wherein the synchronization operationsynchronizes content between the device memory and the media-sharingwebsite.

In another aspect there is provided a method for updating data in amedia storage location, the method including: storing an identity on aportable electronic device, the identity allowing access to the mediastorage location; storing a file in a device memory of the portableelectronic device, the file being captured by a media capturingcomponent of the portable electronic device; and performing asynchronization operation using a media manager, the media manager beingin communication with the device memory and the media storage location;wherein the synchronization operation synchronizes data between thedevice memory and the media storage location.

In another aspect there is provided a portable electronic deviceincluding: at least one folder stored in a device memory, the folder forstoring files captured by a media capturing component of the portableelectronic device; a media manager operable by a processor; an identityallowing access to a remote media storage location; wherein the mediamanager is in communication with the remote storage location tosynchronize content between the device memory and the media storagelocation.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a communication system 10 for a portableelectronic device 12 is generally shown. The portable electronic device12 is operable to effect voice and data communications over a radiocommunications channel and communicates with a base station (not shown)while located within a coverage area that is defined by the basestation. The base station is part of a wireless network (not shown) thatis in communication with the Internet 14. Data is delivered to theportable electronic device 12 via wireless transmission from the basestation. Similarly, data is sent from the portable electronic device 12via wireless transmission to the base station. A server 18 handleswireless client requests from the portable electronic device 12. Afirewall, or proxy server, 16, is provided between the server 18 and theInternet 14.

It will be appreciated that the portable electronic device 12 is movablewithin the coverage area and can be moved to coverage areas defined byother base stations. Further, as will be understood by one skilled inthe art, wireless networks include GSM/GPRS, CDPD, TDMA, iDEN, Mobitex,DataTAC networks, EDGE, EVDO or UMTS and broadband networks such asBluetooth and variants of 802.11.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of certain components,including internal components within the portable electronic device 12,is shown. The portable electronic device 12 is based on a microcomputerthat includes a microprocessor 38 connected to a random access memory(RAM) unit 40 and a persistent storage device, which in the presentembodiment is a flash memory 42 that is responsible for variousnon-volatile storage functions of the portable electronic device 12.Operating system software 20 executable by the microprocessor 38 isstored in the flash memory 42. It will be appreciated, however, that theoperating system software 20 can be stored in other types of memory suchas read-only memory (ROM). In the present embodiment, softwareapplications 22 including Personal Information Manager (PIM)applications are stored in the persistent storage device 42 forexecution by the microprocessor 38 for carrying out various functions.The microprocessor 38 receives input from various input devicesincluding selection device 30, such as a trackball or a thumbwheel, forexample, escape key 32, keypad 34, and media capturing hardware 44 andoutputs to various output devices including LCD display 24, speaker 26and LED indicator 28.

As indicated above, the flash memory 42 stores a plurality ofapplications executable by the microprocessor 38 that enable theportable electronic device 12 to perform certain operations includingthe communication operations referred to above. Applications software isprovided including, for example, PIM applications such as an emailapplication, an address book application, a calendar application, acamera application, an audio/video application and a tasks application,as well as other applications such as a Web browser application, anoptions application and a profiles application.

In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text messageor Web page download is processed by the communications subsystem 46 andinput to the microprocessor 38 for further processing of the receivedsignal for output to the LCD display 24. A user of the portableelectronic device 12 can also compose data items within a softwareapplication such as an e-mail messaging application using the keypad 34,for example, in conjunction with the selection device 30 and the LCDdisplay 24. Such composed items can then be transmitted over thewireless network through the communications subsystem 46 and antenna 48.

The media capturing hardware 44 includes a camera and may furtherinclude an audio/video recorder or an audio recorder. The camerasoftware is a Java application that interfaces with the camera. Imagescaptured by the camera are stored in flash memory 42 on the device 12.The images may alternatively be stored in a removable memory, such as asmartcard, a compact flash memory, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) drive, aSIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card or another suitable memory.Different types of device memory offer different storage capabilities.For example, SIM cards include a relatively small amount of storagespace for image files. The image storage location is a setting that isadjustable by the user. Once the device memory is selected, folders maybe created in the selected device memory to organize images on theportable electronic device 12. An example of a folder structure on thedevice 12 is shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 4, an example media-sharing website webpage isgenerally shown. Many different media-sharing websites are available forpublic use on the Internet including photo-sharing websites: Flickr™,Webshots™, Fotolog™ and MyPhotoAlbum™, for example. These websites allowusers to create accounts and store photos. Multiple folders andsub-folders can be created to organize photos.

Referring to FIG. 5, a method for capturing and storing an image on aportable electronic device 12 is generally shown. It will be appreciatedthat the method of FIG. 5 is not limited to images. The method mayalternatively be applied to video clips captured using a video recorderof the portable electronic device and audio clips captured using anaudio recorder of the portable electronic device. It will be appreciatedthat the term video clips includes video clips having audio andvideo-only clips.

At step 50, the camera application is opened on the portable electronicdevice 12 by selecting a camera application icon (not shown) from thedisplay 24 or by selecting a convenience key on the portable electronicdevice 12 (not shown). Once the device 12 is operating in camera mode,which is shown in FIG. 6, the user is able to capture an image.

Prior to capturing an image, at step 52, the user clicks on a currentfolder box 66, which includes a default folder name, in order to view afolder drop down list 68, which is shown in FIG. 7. The default foldername that is displayed corresponds to the folder in which the lastcaptured image was stored. After viewing the folder drop down list 68,the user determines whether or not an appropriate folder exists on thedevice 12, as indicated at step 54. If the folder exists, it is selectedfrom the folder drop down list 68, as indicated at step 58. If thefolder does not exist, a new folder is created, as indicated at step 56.

At step 60, a default filename is assigned for the next image to becaptured. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a filename box 70 is automaticallypopulated based on the folder selection. The default filename includes:the folder name, an underscore character and the next available imagenumber in that folder. In the example of FIG. 8, the default filename is“Family_12”, which indicates that there are already 11 images stored inthe folder named “Family”.

Once the storage destination of the next captured image has beendetermined, the user takes a picture, as indicated at step 62. As step64, the image is stored in the selected folder and provided with thedefault filename. Message bar 72 on the display 24 of FIG. 9 confirmsthe storage operation.

Creation of a new folder at step 56 will now be described. Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, the user selects a “New Folder” option from the folderdrop down list 68 and a folder naming window 74 is launched. The userthen types in a name for the new folder, as shown in FIG. 12, and clicks“ok”. The new folder has then been created and is selectable from thefolder drop down list 68.

Once images are captured using the camera and the image files stored onthe portable electronic device 12, the image files and may be uploadedto a photo storage location on a personal computer, an external storagedevice and/or a photo-sharing website.

A method for updating a media-sharing website from the portableelectronic device 12 is generally shown in FIG. 13. It will beappreciated that although the method is described for a photo-sharingwebsite, the media-sharing website could alternatively be a website onwhich video clips and/or audio clips are stored, for example.

At step 76, an identity with the photo-sharing website is stored on thedevice 12. The identity is created in a manner that is well known in theart and includes a user name and password. The identity allows thedevice 12 access to an account on the photo hosting website withoutrequiring live user input. The identity is stored in flash memory 42 andmay be the same as a work identity, an instant messaging identity oranother on-line photo account identity. It will be appreciated that theidentity may alternatively be stored in a removable memory, such as asmartcard, a compact flash memory, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) drive, aSIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card or another removable memory. Inaddition, the identity may be stored on-line.

At step 78, at least one image file is captured by the camera of theportable electronic device 12 and stored on the device 12 in the memorylocation that was previously selected by the user. The image file may bestored directly on the selected device memory or alternatively foldersmay be created to organize the photos.

At steps 80 and 82, a photo manager that is in communication with thedevice memory and the account on the photo-sharing website performs asynchronization operation in response to an update prompt. Thesynchronization operation includes: synchronizing folder structurebetween the device 12 and the photo-sharing website and uploading imagefiles from the device 12 to the photo-sharing website. Synchronizingfolder structure includes copying folder information from the device 12to the photo-sharing website and vice versa in order to maintainparallel folder structure therebetween. Uploading image files includescopying the image files from the folders on the device 12 to similarfolders on the photo-sharing website.

Once the synchronization operation has completed, the folder structurein the device memory and the photo-sharing website account is alignedand the image files have been uploaded, as indicated at step 84.

The photo manager is a software application that is stored in flashmemory 42 and is executable by the processor 38. During thesynchronization operation, data is transferred via the photo managerapplication, a web browser or an alternate software application 22 onthe portable electronic device 12 to the account on the photo-sharingwebsite. The data transfer occurs in response to the update prompt,which is generated manually by the user or automatically at timesspecified in the photo manager settings.

The user generates the update prompt manually by opening the photomanager application and connecting to the photo-sharing account usingthe identity. The user then navigates through menu options using theselection device 30 to initiate the synchronization operation.

The update prompt settings of the photo manager control when and howoften automatic synchronization updates between the device 12 and thephoto-sharing website are performed. The user settings may be changed onthe device 12 or, if the identity is stored on-line, changed in theon-line identity and synchronized to one another.

The update prompt may be set to occur at regular intervals, such asevery day or every week, for example, or set to initiate thesynchronization operation in response to a change in the folderstructure and/or content at the device 12, the photo-sharing website orboth. Restrictions to the synchronization process may be set includingonly allowing updates when the device 12 has access to a transfer mediumthat has a minimum predefined speed. For example, the updates may be setto occur when the device 12 is operating on an EDGE (Enhanced Data GSMenvironment) network, UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)network or another high speed network. Alternatively, for dual-modewide-area-network (WAN) and cellular devices, updates may be prompted tooccur when in WAN coverage. Further, an application may be provided toping the photo-sharing website and perform updates when there is lesstraffic on the network to allow for faster file transfer.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that thesynchronization operation is not limited to including both folderalignment and image file upload to the photo-sharing website. Instead, afolder synchronization update prompt could be provided to initiate afolder synchronization operation and an upload update prompt could beprovided to initiate an image file upload operation. For example, thefolder synchronization update prompt could be set to occur when changesfolder structure in the device 12 and/or the photo-sharing website aredetected and the upload update prompt could be set to occur once perweek. Further, although upload has been described as including onlycopying image files from the device 12 to the photo-sharing website,uploading could also include copying image files from the photo-sharingwebsite to the device 12. A user setting would be provided to specifythe parameters for uploading.

In another embodiment, the update prompt does not automatically initiatethe synchronization operation. Instead, the photo manager prompts theuser of the device 12 to perform an update when the device 12 is pluggedinto a personal computer. When plugged into the personal computer, thedevice 12 has access to faster bandwidth, which will increase the speedof data transfer. The photo manager may send a pop-up message or promptthe user in another manner in order to notify the user that there is anupdate to be performed. In this embodiment, the synchronizationoperation is launched by the user and does not take place automatically.

In yet another embodiment, the photo manager is stored on-line ratherthan on the portable electronic device 12. When an update is performed,files are transferred from the device 12 to the on-line photo manager.The files are then distributed from the photo manager to a single ormultiple photo-sharing website accounts. Storing the photo manageron-line provides more memory since there is no device memory limitation.Further, people other than the user are able to access the photo managerwhen it is on-line so that viewing and editing operations within thephoto manager is not limited to the user.

Specific embodiments have been shown and described herein. However,modifications and variations may occur to those skilled in the art. Allsuch modifications and variations are believed to be within the sphereand scope of the present embodiments.

1. A method for updating a media-sharing website, said methodcomprising: storing an identity on a portable electronic device, saididentity allowing access to an account on said media-sharing website;creating a folder directory having a folder name on said portableelectronic device; receiving input on said portable electronic deviceselecting said folder directory; capturing an image file to a devicememory of said portable electronic device using a media capturingcomponent of said portable electronic device; assigning a file name tosaid image file; said file name including a sequence number; storingsaid image file in said folder directory using said file name; andperforming a synchronization operation using a media manager, said mediamanager being in communication with said device memory and said accounton said media-sharing website and using said identity to access saidmedia-sharing website; wherein said synchronization operationsynchronizes content between said device memory and said media-sharingwebsite such that said image file is stored in said media-sharingwebsite using said file name.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, whereinsaid synchronization operation occurs in response to an update prompt.3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said folder name is namedbased on input provided to said portable electronic device.
 4. A methodas claimed in claim 3, wherein a new folder corresponding to said foldername is generated and stored on said media-sharing website as part ofsaid synchronization operation.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 3,wherein said sequence number corresponds to a number of said image filesin said at least one folder incremented by one.
 6. A method as claimedin claim 2, wherein said update prompt occurs at regular intervals.
 7. Amethod as claimed in claim 2, wherein said update prompt occurs whenthere is a change in the device memory or the media-sharing websiteaccount.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said update promptis generated manually by a user.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 1,wherein said synchronization operation includes copying folders andimage files from said device memory to said media-sharing website.
 10. Amethod as claimed in claim 1, wherein said synchronization operationincludes copying folders from said media-sharing website to said devicememory.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said media capturingcomponent is a camera and said media-sharing website is a photo-sharingwebsite.
 12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mediacapturing component is an audio/video recorder and said media-sharingwebsite is an audio/video-sharing website.
 13. A method for updatingdata in a media storage location, said method comprising: storing anidentity on a portable electronic device, said identity allowing accessto said media storage location; creating a folder directory on saidportable electronic device having a folder name; receiving input on saidportable electronic device selecting said folder directory; capturing afile to a device memory of said portable electronic device using a mediacapturing component of said portable electronic device; assigning a filename to said file; said file name including a sequence number; storingsaid file in said folder directory using said file name; and performinga synchronization operation using a media manager, said media managerbeing in communication with said device memory and said media storagelocation and using said identity to access said media storage location;wherein said synchronization operation synchronizes data between saiddevice memory and said media storage location such that said file isstored in said media storage location using said file name.
 14. A methodas claimed in claim 13, wherein said media storage location is anaccount on a media-sharing website.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 13,wherein said media storage location is a personal computer.
 16. A methodas claimed in claim 13, wherein said media storage location is anexternal storage device.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 14, whereinsaid sequence number corresponds to a number of said files in said atleast one folder incremented by one.
 18. A method as claimed in claim15, wherein said media capturing component is a camera and saidmedia-sharing website is a photo-sharing website.
 19. A method asclaimed in claim 15, wherein said media capturing component is anaudio/video recorder and said media-sharing website is anaudio/video-sharing website.
 20. A portable electronic devicecomprising: a memory for storing an identity allowing access to a remotemedia storage location; a processor interconnected with said memory,said processor configured to create a folder directory having a foldername for storage in said memory, said folder directory for storing filescaptured by a media capturing component of said portable electronicdevice; said processor configured to receive input from an input deviceinterconnected with said processor selecting said folder directory; saidprocessor further configured to assign a file name to a file captured bysaid media capturing component, the file name including a sequencenumber; said processor further configured to store said file in saidfolder directory using said file name; a media manager operable by saidprocessor and in communication with said memory and said media storagelocation for performing a synchronization operation using said identityto access said media storage location; wherein said synchronizationoperation synchronizes data between said memory and said media storagelocation such that said file is stored in said media storage locationusing said file name.
 21. A portable electronic device as claimed inclaim 20, wherein said media storage location is an account on amedia-sharing website.
 22. A portable electronic device as claimed inclaim 20, wherein said media storage location is a personal computer.23. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein saidmedia storage location is an external storage device.
 24. A portableelectronic device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said sequence numbercorresponds to a number of said files in said at least one folderincremented by one.
 25. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim21, wherein said media capturing component is a camera and saidmedia-sharing website is a photo-sharing website.
 26. A portableelectronic device as claimed in claim 21, wherein said media capturingcomponent is an audio/video recorder and said media-sharing website isan audio/video-sharing website.